Grim Grinning Ghosts

The boys were watching their Disneyland videotape this afternoon. It was shot at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, and features dozens of happy children visiting the various rides and attractions, singing and dancing all the while. The boys are fascinated by this tape, particularly the section that shows the Haunted Mansion.

"You know, guys, Daddy and I have been on that ride. Both at that park and at the one in Disney World in Florida," I told them.

They looked at me with new respect. "Are there really ghostes there?" asked Stephen, shuddering a little in mock fear.

"No, honey," I laugh. "It's all pretend, you know. Special effects make it look like there are ghosts dancing."

Daniel especially likes the song that is sung at the Haunted House on the videotape, "Grim Grinning Ghosts." When the Haunted House segment had ended, he stopped the videotape and ran off. Returning with a piece of paper and a pencil, he rewound the tape and started playing it again.

"When the crypt doors creak and the tombstones quake / Spooks come out for a swinging wake...," sang the tape. Daniel was quickly scribbling, "When the...oh darn!" He stopped the tape and rewound it again.

Poor Daniel. It would have been hard enough for me to transcribe the song, and I can write a heck of a lot faster than he can.

"Hang on, Dans, let me see if I can find the words for you on the internet." A quick Alta Vista search later turned up dozens of hits. I printed out the lyrics and handed the paper to a grateful little boy.

Conversation in the Car

"Wanna hear my joke, Mama?" Daniel asked.

"Sure, honey."

"What do you need if your toothbrush is broken?"

"Ummm, I don't know. What?"

"Toothpaste! Get it? Toothpaste!"

I laughed.

"I made it up myself," Daniel said, pleased at my response.

"Really?"

"Yeah, Danny told me a joke: 'What do you need if your pizza is broken? Tomato paste!' so I made up the toothbrush joke."

"Well, that's pretty good, Dans."

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